Arrow Rest Accessory For Archery Bow

Abstract

An arrow rest accessory for mounting on an archery bow and aiding in the accurate and precise guiding of arrows shot therefrom, in the form of a laterally-projecting helical spring member, against which the side and bottom portions of the arrow shaft rest, for absorbing the shock imparted to the bow following arrow release. The spring member is affixed to the free end of a flexible arm of spring steel whose other end is secured to the handle riser portion of the bow by an adjustable mounting which permits independent adjustment of both the vertical and lateral positioning of the rest relative to the bow.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an arrow rest for an archery bow for absorbing the shock occasioned by the sudden release of the arrow and thereby improving accuracy in flight and closer grouping of arrows shot in target competition.

In archery contests, as well as in bow hunting where accurate marksmanship is important, precise control of the various parameters affecting the accuracy of arrow flight is crucial. Accordingly, various mechanical aids have been developed for use by archery marksmen, including optical bowsights, stabilizers for absorbing the shock of arrow release, rope releases, etc., all with the objective of improving accuracy. To the same end various arrow rest bow attachments have been developed in the past, as an alternative to the use of the shelf formed integrally in the bow, to reduce the shock and vibration imparted to the bow, and thus to the arrow, upon the latter's release.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved form of arrow rest accessory, adapted to be used with a wide multiplicity of bow designs and sizes, which materially lessen shock and impact on the bow and thus on the arrow following its release. The arrow rest of the present invention is in the form of an accessory adapted to be mounted on the handle riser portion of the bow and provides an energy-absorbing lateral and vertical support for the forward portion of the arrow shaft. The arrow rest has independent adjustment means for permitting its ready vertical and lateral positioning relative to the bow, as desired. Improved accuracy, resulting from the absorption and consequent minimization of the shock impact to the bow following arrow release, is achieved.

It is accordingly a principal objective of the present invention to provide a new and improved arrow rest accessory for an archery bow which minimizes the shock imparted to the bow following arrow release.

It is a principal feature of the present invention to provide an arrow rest accessory for mounting on an archery bow which is provided with means for independent adjustment of the vertical and lateral positioning of the arrow support rest relative to the bow.

The foregoing objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view showing an embodiment of the arrow rest of the present invention installed on an archery bow.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing details of the arrow rest of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the arrow rest.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the arrow rest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows an archery bow 10 of conventional design on which is mounted the improved arrow rest 20 of the present invention against which the shaft of arrow 15 rests prior to and during release of the bow string. As shown in the detailed views of FIGS. 2-4, the arrow rest 20 is comprised of a cantilevered arm member 25 of thin flexible resilient metal, such as spring steel, which is disposed between the arrow shaft and riser portion of the bow and aligned substantially colinear with the arrow shaft. The fixed end of the arm member 25 is secured to a mounting means 27, 28, details of which will be described later, using a pivot set screw 30 which, when loosened, permits angular adjustment of the arm relative to the mount. The free end of the cantilevered arm member 25 is provided with a laterally-projecting helical spring 29 of two or three coil turns secured thereto at 35, either by spot welding or soldering, and terminating in a free coil end 29a. The coil end 29a is formed by straightening a portion of the arcuate coil end of the spring and is arranged to align substantially horizontally. The finger-like coil end 29a is directed toward the forward end of the arrow shaft 15 and serves as a bottom support for the shaft, with the coiled turns of the spring 29 serving as a lateral abutment for the shaft.

Turning now to the mounting for the arm member 25, as previously described set screw 30 provides a lockable pivot pin connection of the arm to the mounting means formed by the pair of elements 27, 28. The right-angle flange 28 is secured to an appropriate location on the handle riser portion of the bow 10 using a suitable fastener means, such as screw 32. The leg portion of the flange 28 which extends across the inner face of the bow is provided with a horizontal keyway groove which mates with a corresponding dovetail formed in slidebar element 27, the keyway combination providing a laterally slideable mounting for the lever arm 25. Thus the lateral position of the rest relative to the bow and transversely to the arrow shaft is adjustable and lockable by securement of the set screw 31 which, when tightened, fixes the position of bar 27 along the keyway groove of flange 28. (As an alternative to element 28 of the combination forming the mounting means for the arrow rest, an appropriate keyway groove could be formed integrally in the inner face of the riser portion of the bow 10 so as to provide the channel within which the slidebar 27 can be laterally positioned and secured.)

By reason of the two degrees of adjustment, as indicated by the arrowheads in FIGS. 2 and 3, provided by (1) the pivot screw 30 angularly positioning the end of the lever arm 25 against the washer 33 and slidebar 27, and (2) the set screw 31 securing the lateral position of the slidebar 27 relative to the flange 28 affixed to the bow's handle riser, the position of the operative support portion of the arrow rest can be readily and independently positioned both vertically and laterally relative to the bow.

In use, the release of the bow string and the consequent sudden forward acceleration of the arrow would ordinarily produce a severe shock to the handle riser portion of the bow against which the arrow shaft rests. This sudden impact would, in the usual case, induce a momentary vibration of the bow, which movement, even though minute, when retransmitted to the arrow would likely cause deviation in its intended flight path. However, with the use of the rest of the present invention, the shock impact generated by the arrow upon its release is largely absorbed in the spring portion 29 and the cantilevered arm member 25, both of which compress under impact but, because of their resilient nature, act as mechanical energy absorbers and do not transmit any substantial shock or vibration to the bow to which they are coupled. Accordingly, the absorption of this impact by the rest 20 allows the archer to maintain the bow rock steady following release of the arrow, thus eliminating any deviation in the arrow's flight which might otherwise be caused by slight movement or oscillation of the bow in response to the shock of arrow release.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing abstract and specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An arrow rest accessory, adapted for mounting on a handle riser portion of an archery bow for absorbing the shock imparted to a bow following release of an arrow, comprising:

a. mounting means adapted to releasably secure said accessory to a handle riser portion of a bow;

b. a cantilevered resilient arm member secured at its fixed end to said mounting means; and

c. a helically wound resilient spring member affixed at one end to the free end of said cantilevered arm member and projecting substantially horizontally from a handle riser portion of a bow and in a direction transverse to that of an in-place arrow, the end of said spring member being substantially straight and providing vertical support of an arrow and the coiled portion of the spring member provides a lateral support for an arrow.

2. The arrow rest of claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises two elements, one of which is fixedly securable to a handle riser portion and the other of which is slidably moveable therewith for providing lateral adjustment of said arrow rest relative to a bow.

3. The arrow rest of claim 1 wherein the fixed end of said cantilevered arm is pivotably connected to said mounting means for providing vertical adjustment of said arrow rest relative to a bow.